Why Sign?

The purpose of the Charter is to bring together CEOs who understand the principle that the effective management of health and safety is essential to the long term profitability and sustainability of their companies and spread the message to as many leaders in the corporate world.

The business case for health and safe is well documented. By working together we hope, not only to drive profits and productivity up but bring injury rates down, establishing ourselves as corporately responsible citizens and making a difference in the shape of health and safety in BC industry.

The Business Case

Measuring the Return on Investment when a company commits to a culture of workplace safety?

Insurance Premiums

We know we can reduce insurance premiums.

From 2008 to 2013, employers in the Food and Beverage Processing and Manufacturing industries saved millions as a result of better health and safety, reduced injury rates and reduced WorkSafeBC premiums.

Injury Rates

We know we can reduce injury rates.

From 2008 to 2013, with a concerted effort on the part of industry leaders and the creation of the Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC the Food and Beverage Processing and Manufacturing industries in BC managed to bring down injury rates significantly.

Productivity

We know a safe and healthy workplace is a more productive workplace.

How do we know? Our members have told us.

One of the key methods of communication we rely on is the Breakfast Mentoring Sessions hosted by our Charter Members. One of the things we’ve learned form those sessions is that when you improve health and safety you:

Profits

We know a more productive workplace with a low injury rate is more profitable workplace.

How do we know? One of our Charter Members said it best:

“When I started down this path, we had a great safety record, but I realized we viewed it as just a part of the job, not as a culture within our organization that needed to be developed and embraced by all our staff. We needed to continually recognize our vulnerabilities when working in the many different environments we deploy our staff into each and every day.”

Rick GibbsOwner, Neutron Factory Works

“It is amazing what happens to a whole organization once the employee is truly able to say to themselves, ‘The company actually cares about me.'”

Dave McAnerneyPresident and CEO, Sun-Rype Products Ltd., Kelowna

“One of the things I learned, and one of the reasons I signed the Health & Safety Charter, is that I started thinking more about the people I’m responsible for, ensuring they return home safely to their families every day. I know all of my employee’s kids.”

“We found we had employees who really, really cared about our organization. It sounds trite but, if you don’t care about your staff, they won’t care about you. The trust we developed with our staff through our drive to reduce accidents paid off in a hundred different ways through those difficult days.”

What Happens Once I Sign?

Signing the BC Safety Charter is just the beginning. As a Charter Member, or Champion to the Cause, we ask that your actions speak louder than words and that you actively participate in spreading the word.

That word you will be spreading is a good news story that adopting an effective Safety Culture is more than a priority for an organization. It is much more than that. An effective Safety Culture is a value; something that never changes and isn’t subject to climactic or operational variances.

We value and appreciate your participation. We are confident that this initiative will realize our vision of reducing injury in the workplace and of building a successful network of CEOs who can help one another achieve their business goals.

As a Charter Member, we ask you to consider:

Host a Breakfast Session, inviting 5-6 like-minded people you think would like to become a Champion of the Charter

Help promote our outreach Townhall program by connecting with associates in cities throughout BC

Attend a Charter Focus Group to discover strategies and initiatives that promote safety as a core value, drive injury rates down, and help reduce WorkSafeBC premiums

Attend our Annual Roundtable

Become an active member of a health and safety association

Lead by example; embark upon or enhance an existing OH&S program

Start the Journey

Now that you know more about the BC Safety Charter and what the commitment involves, we’d like to meet you and help to you to begin your journey with us.

When you complete this form a Charter Member or representative will be in touch with you to help get things going.

If you have any further questions about signing the BC Safety Charter please give George W. Higgins a call at 604.802.7315or email at gwhiggins@bcsafetycharter.ca.